NELSON, BC
Chaundra Vaneltsi knows a great opportunity when she sees one. That's why the Grade 11 Chief Julius School student jumped at the chance to be part of a youth exchange program to Nelson, B.C., last month.
Chaundra Vaneltsi jumped at the chance to be part of a youth exchange program to Nelson, B.C., in February. - photo courtesy of Karen Vaneltsi |
"We don't get those kinds of chances to leave this town," Vaneltsi said. "I wanted to go see how it is to live in B.C and go to school there, and I wanted to meet new people."
Vaneltsi and 15 classmates travelled to Nelson, where they partnered with students at L.V. Rogers Secondary School for a week. They returned to Fort McPherson on Feb. 17.
Students were paired with a "twin" who took them to class, went skiing and snowboarding with them and took them on tours of the school.
Vaneltsi said the classes offered at L.V. Rogers, particularly drama and dance, impressed her.
She also enjoyed hearing the school's choir.
"Their choir group goes all around the world to sing," she said. "We don't have choir up here."
It was Vaneltsi's first trip to B.C. She said she noticed a lot of differences between Nelson and her hometown.
"Their town, it's very different. It's on the mountain and there are a lot of hills on the roads," she said. "They have really tall trees. There are a lot of people there."
Students also visited hot springs, toured the Selkirk College campus and learned about the area's wildlife during a guided snowshoe walk.
Vaneltsi said while students were a bit homesick during the first part of the trip, spirits improved mid-way through the week.
"By the third day everyone got to know each other and nobody wanted to come back," she said. "It was really sad the last day."
In April, students from L.V. Rogers Secondary School will switch roles from hosts to guests and travel to Fort McPherson.
Vaneltsi said she is looking forward to welcoming the students, who are scheduled to arrive just in time for the Peel River Jamboree.
They'll get to experience Ski-Doo and dogsled races and watch traditional dancing, Vaneltsi said.
She said students are eager to re-connect.
"All of us that went can't wait for the Nelson students to come here," she said.
The program was sponsored by the YMCA Youth Exchange Canada Program.
